Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Rosaleen Fenton & Fiona Leishman

Harlow Freeman: Baby kidnapped by car thief FOUND alive by police after 14-hour search

A nine-month-old baby kidnapped after the car she was sitting in was stolen has been found alive.

Harlow Darby Freeman was sitting in the back of the family's white Lexus SUV outside a home on Crest Avenue in Parrish, Alabama, when a car thief reportedly took the car with the infant inside at around 6.50pm last night, Monday July 10.

She had reportedly been left in the car momentarily as her father went inside a friend's house briefly. Police have confirmed that Harlow has now been found alive.

Family and friends who had gathered in the search for baby Harlow were reportedly screaming with joy and relief and hugging each other having received the news that the child was found alive after a desperate search. Mayor Jared Cagel confirmed that the child had been found safe, though details of what exactly happened or how she was found are limited.

Harlow's aunt Melinda Hutchison told WBRC that the child had been taken to Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, as a precautionary measure. But, she added the family is "feeling ecstatic."

Harlow Darby Freeman was snatched while sitting in the back of a car on Monday (Facebook)
A desperate search is underway for missing tot Harlow Darby Freeman (Bethany Smith / Facebook)

"She's been found and we couldn't be happier," she said. "Have to give God all the glory."

The amber alert issued after her disappearance due to the "extreme danger" she was believed to have been in has since been cancelled. Police told local outlet WBRC that Harlow has been found alive and the amber alert has been cancelled.

There have been reports that Harlow was found safe within an hour of the amber alert being issued. It's not known yet whether the car was recovered.

There is no further information from law enforcement at this time as to where Harlow was found or what condition she was in.

Harlow's mum, Bethany Smith, had posted multiple appeals on Facebook for help in tracking down her infant daughter. She begged with the car thief to "Please just give me back my baby".

She also said she would "meet you with no questions asked" and that they can "keep the car", she was just "begging you to please bring my baby to me."

Her final heartbreaking update for the day after Harlow's disappearance read: "The baby still hasn't been found!! Please continue to pray that the baby is found!!!"

Bethany's posts received comments with people praying for her daughter's safe return and have been shared thousands of times as members of the public joined in with the frantic search for the child.

Harlow is a 9-month-old girl, described as white with brown hair and blue eyes. She's said to weigh around 20lbs, and was last seen wearing a tie-dye onesie and pink shorts.

Her family offered a reward for $5,000 for the tot's safe return. Her aunt Melinda Hutchison, told local outlet CBS 42: "I hope whoever has her, I mean, I hope they're taking care of her. I mean, she's nine months old and, you know, I just know that sometimes money talks. And, so, maybe if somebody is offered money and they know something they will say something."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.